Hydraulic drive



May 4, 194f3 5 P. D MATTIA 2,318,065

HYDRAULIC DRIVE Filed May '7. 1941 /0-7 Z7 z5 26a 274/ miy Z6? n /55 V- ,Fl g-1 Z6) 30d v/ZZ Patented May 4, 1943 iJNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE HYDRAULIC' DRIVE Peter De Mattia, Passaic, N. J.

Application May 7, 1941, Serial No. 392,207

1 Claim. I(Cl. 13S- 31) This invention relates to hydraulic drives for various machines, and' has particular advantage in drives for injection molding machines.

Due to the high pressures required in plastic mol'ding machines,` which are often about 30,000 pounds per square inch, resort is frequently had to hydraulic systems for the simple and economical transmission of power, especially to the injector power cylinder.

A serious drawback in the use of such hydraulic systems has been the fact that the pump required had to be of large size, which is a condition that is inconsistent with the practical use of high pressures, because of the cost of the installation and the excessive use of power. A molding machine operates quite rapidly, and of course the injector power cylinder is of relatively large area and hencevolume.

In the endeavor to overcome this diculty, it has been proposed touse-accumul'ators of liquid under pressure, charged during the time whilethe plastic was injecting. But this expedient led to other diiculties as follows:

l". Because the accumulator was loaded V,by a spring, the discharge pressure of the accumulator was variable. Although this powerful spring was capable of causing a high liquid pressure, .the unit pressure was limited by that of the pump and rapidly fell as the injector power cylinder expanded. Hence the injector action piston hesitated during the ejector stroke. During that hesitation, the plastic solidied in whole or in part in the die, and therefore the die could not be wholly filled and the article was defective.

2. Because the plastic contracts during solidi- :i

cation, the full pressure must be maintained to prevent er minimize blow holes and other deiects. Sincea positive pressure pumpsuch as is used for high pressure has a xed capacity, the

continued operation of the pump after the iniector' power cylinder was full, placed an unusual strain cn the pump; nor could the ow from the pump be maintained without loss in pressure on the power cylinder, since a variation of a very small quantity ofliquid would cause a great difference in pressure. And as already seen, the accumulator couldV not be relied upon because its pressure would be low at the time that the injection of the plastic occurred.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an hydraulically actuated plastic injection molding machine having improved means for accumulating a fluid, such as a liquid, and for causing the same to be fed at constant pressure equal to that of the pump.

Another object of the invention is to furnish such a machine having. improved means such that the full pressure shall'v be maintained in a practicaly manner during the follow-up of the injector piston, while the plastic begins to set.

Another object of the invention isY to provide such a machine having improved means whereby the pump is in constant operation without undue strain, and causes a constant uniform injection pressure which is; prolonged during the follow-up.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a machine having; an improved cycle of operation adapted for high speed: opera-tion.

Another object ofthe invention is the provision of a device of very simple character and' improved structure whereby power isr transmitted to and fro between two points at one of which the pressure is variable? while at the other the pressure is always constant. v

In the'drawing:

Figure 1 is a schematic view showingl a system embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation with parts in section showing an embodiment of the invention.

The advantages of the invention as hereoutlined are best realized when all of its features and instrumentalities are combined in one and the same structure, but, useful devices may be produced embodying less than the whole.

It will be: obvious to those skilled inthe art Vto which the invention appertains, that the same may be incorporated in several diierent constructions. The accompanying drawing, therefore, is submitted merely as showing. the preferred exemplicationof the invention.

Referring in detail to the drawing, I0 denotes a system embodying the invention and which is best exemplified by an injection mach-ine for molding plastics in a die. Any die II may comprise a relatively fixed die member I2 andl a relatively movable die member i3. For closing the die I I', an actuator such as a cylinder I4 may be provided, having a piston I5` connected as at I6 to the die member I3. After the die I-I is closed, injection of the plastic thereinto may be caused by any suitable means, preferably a heated cylinder I'I for melting the plastic, and having therein a piston I8 for causing a measured charge of the plastic to be injected from the cylinder Il into the closed die Il.. Retraction of the piston I8 begins before the die begins to open. For causing reciprocation of the piston I8, or at least the power stroke thereof, a cylinder I9 is provided having a piston 20 that is connected to the piston I8.

For operation of the cylinders I4 and I9, a suitable pressure source such as a pump 2| is provided which is preferably in continuous operation and is of the positive pressure type. This pump 2| obtains its uid, preferably a liquid such as oil, from a reservoir 22 and discharges the same into a pipe line 23, 24, 25 and 2G. The pipe lines 25 and 26 lead to any suitable multiway valve devices 21, 28. From the device 21, extend the pipe branches 21a and 21h to the cylinder I4 for respective projection and retraction of the piston I5. Similar reversible action of the piston is caused by the branch pipes 28a and 28h for respective projection and retraction. It is thus seen that a primary function of the valve devices 21, 28 is purely directional. These valve devices may be controlled in any suitable manner which is conventional and hence not shown; it will suffice to mention that they may be operated by so-called pilot controls, which ln v turn may be'actuated manually or automatically in suitably timed relation according to'the timing of the pistons I6 and 29. i

The pipelines 24, and 2B are in communication with a fluid accumulator 29 of an expansible-collapsible type, preferably one which is capable of operation at constant pressure to maintain the simplicity of the means which ccntrols the accumulator. Engaging or coacting with the accumulator is apower storage means 39 which is capable of storing power ata varying and hence increased pressure, sothat the power storage means is adapted to` be highly compact and to requirea minimum of space. The coaction between the accumulator 29 and the power storage means 39 is such that'there is a flow of power between the two such that a `constant pressure in 29 causes a build up of power at an increasing pressure in 39; and. then theow of power from 39 to 29 causes the latter to'release the power to the system I0 at a relatively constant pressure. Various structures may be used for this purpose, one of whichA i's hereinafter .de-

scribed. Y

Between the pipes 23 and 24 `is placed a valve control device 3l, from which a by-pass 32 for the pump 2| leads to the reservoir 22.

In operation, when thesystem Iis started up, the valve devices 21 and 28'a1e preferably in closed position, andthe valve device 3l is in a positionto close the by-pass 32. Hence the pump charges the accumulator 29 and thereforethe power storage means 39 and fills with pressure the pipe lines 25 and 26. Now the cycle begins, with a movement of the valve device 21 to cause the pressure to flow through 21a to close the die K II,-followed by a movement of the valve device 28 to cause pressure to ow through 28a to cause the plunger I8 to advance and inject a charge of plastic into the closed die FII. During these operations of the cylinders I4 and I9, the capacity of the pump 2| is supplemented at like, relatively constant pressure by the accumulator 29 and power storage means 33. Hence there is a wholly uniform advance of the pistons 29 and IB, with no hesitation or wavering such as would occur if the pressure from the accumulator were to drop. Thus Vthere can be no incomplete or premature setting of plastic in the die II, which would prevent complete loading of the die and result in the molding of a defective product. Sufficient capacity is a1forded,although the cylinder I9 is relatively large due to the size of the piston 2D for the extremely high injection pressure required. The continuous uniform vhigh pressure alforded by the accumulator and pump is further available for the follow-up injection of plastic into the die, which occurs due to contraction of the plastic as the same begins to set. Such follow-up must be had at the same high pressure as the main injection stroke. Thus blowholes and other defects in the molded product are avoided or at least diminished.

During the cycle, the constantly operating pump begins feeding pressure to the accumulator while the plastic is setting in the die I I. The cylinders I4, I9 are full, and hence the entire capacity of the pump is available to refill the accumulator 29. Nevertheless the pump pressure simultaneously acts without any diminution upon the cylinders I4 and I9. This is due to the fact that the accumulator-storage means combination interposes a relatively uniform constant resistance to the pump pressure, as will be evident. As soon as the accumulator 29 has become fully expanded, the valve device 3| becomes suitably responsive to the accumulator, as by being mechanically tripped or moved by the expanded accumulator, and hence closes the pipe line 24 and forms acommunication between the lines 23 and 32 to by-pass the pump pressure to the tank. Should there be any leak in the system which would cause the accumulator to collapse even slightly, the valve device 3| automatically returns to its previous position tov cause the accumulator to be again charged up by the pump.

Upon completion Yof the setting of the plastic, anyv timing device or manual controls (not shown) operate rst the valve device 28, then the valve device 21 for a reverse or retraction movement of the respective pistons 2I| and I5, as hereinbefore mentioned. When this occurs, the accumulator 29 begins to supply pressure to the opposite Vfaces of these pistons, and as the accumulator begins to collapse, the valve device returns to its normal position to close the bypass 32 and cause the pump 2| to feed pressure to the pipe lines 24, 25 and 26 to act in conjunctionl with the accumulator for causing retraction of the pistons I5 and 29. The liquid at theopposite sides of these pistons may be drained off in any suitable manner to the reservoir 22, as by the pipe lines 33, 34 which connect into the valve devices21, 23 to be controlled thereby. Thus these valve devices may be termed four-way valves. During the dwell caused in removing the molded article, the cylinders I4 and I9 being again full, the entire capacity of the pump 2| is available to reload to accumulator 29, whereupon the valve device 3| diverts the pump capacity through the by-pass 32 to the reservoir 22 as before. This completes the cycle.

In Fig. 2 is shown a device 35 embodying the invention according to one possible exemplication thereof. Here the accumulator may comprise a cylinder 36 and a piston 31 having a hollow connecting rod 33 which extends through the piston. At its upper end the ccnnrecting rod is connected into a fixed bearing 39 which affords a swivel connection to the pipe line 24. The lower end of the cylinder is pivotally connected at 49 to albell crank lever 4I having a. xed pivot at 42. Accordingly, the piston and cylinder form a means which is expansible and collapsible by oscillation between the fixed points 39 and 42, with the cylinder and piston mutually guiding each other; although additional guide means for the cylinder may be provided` at 39 if desired. The other end of the bell crank forms a pivot 43 for a head 44 which ccs-operates with a head 45 having a fixed pivot 4S. Acting between the heads 44 and 45 is a powerful expansion coil spring 41, which may be guided to maintain it in a straight line as by rods 48 and in any other suitable manner not shown.

The bell crank 4l provides arms 49, 50, which in conjunction with the pivotally mounted accumulator 29 and power storage means 30, arranged as shown, form a leverage system such that the sum of the moments about the fixed pivot 42 are equal to zero, according to the well known principle of physics. In other words, assuming that constant pressure is being fed to the accumulator, the leverage of the bell crank 4l changes as the spring 41 is compressed. Thus the constant force exerted by the expanding accumulator is capable of exerting an increasing force on the spring; and, in reverse, a decreasing force caused by the expanding spring, exerts a constant force on the accumulator. In actual practice, moments that are exactly equal cannot be realized without the use of cams or eccentrics. But` these would add so much expense and friotion\a,s not to be worthwhile. With the exemplication herein shown to scale, the moments at diiierent points have been computed, and the installation designed so that the moments are approximately equal. The maximum variation need not exceed more than ten percent.

In operation, the fluid pressure passes through the hollow rod 38 and causes relative movement between the piston 31 and the cylinder 36, causing movement of the bell crank 4l and hence compression of the spring 41. The maximum movement is indicated by the dotted lines. When the fluid pressure is released through the hollow rod 38, the reverse movement occurs under the power stored in the spring 41. The control 3| may be responsive to any moving element such as the cylinder 36 or the connecting rod 38 or even the bearing 39, for its intended operation.

In principle, the spring 41 is the equivalent of any resilient means, and even of a gas or other cushioning means which stores power by compression. Obviously, the system I0 can be operated by gas or liquid, the latter being preferred because it is positive and occupies little space.

I claim:

A device whereby power can be resiliently stored so as to be' available at relatively constant pressure substantially without loss, including an expansible-collapsible accumulator for fluid under pressure pivotally mounted at one end, a resiliently acting power storage means pivotally mounted at one end, and means having a relatively xed pivot pivotally connected to the other ends of the accumulator and pow'er storage means and having the characteristic that the recurrent variable moments of the accumulator and power storagemeans about said relatively xed pivot are approximately equal in different operative pivotal positions of the accumulator and power storage means.

PETER DE MATTIA. 

